SR0679 LRB094 19971 RAS 57371 r

1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of Illinois
3 learned with regret of the death of Arthur "Bill" Tunell of
4 Westmont on Saturday, February 25, 2006; and
 
5     WHEREAS, Mr. Tunell was born in Chicago; his family moved
6 to Westmont when he was a junior in high school; and
 
7     WHEREAS, Shortly after Mr. Tunell graduated from what is
8 now Downers Grove North High School, he enlisted in the United
9 States Navy; he helped navigate Tank Landing Ship 380 during
10 the invasion of Normandy during World War II; towards the end
11 of the war, he volunteered for a mission and was trained to be
12 part of Underwater Demolition Team 28, the predecessor to the
13 Navy Seals; and
 
14     WHEREAS, Mr. Tunell married his wife, Irma, in 1948; they
15 had a loving relationship for almost 56 years; and
 
16     WHEREAS, After the war, Mr. Tunell returned home and worked
17 briefly at Western Electric; he then became a machinist for the
18 Electro-Motive Division of General Motors, where he was also a
19 part of General Motor's industrial fire department; and
 
20     WHEREAS, Mr. Tunell became involved in volunteering with
21 the Westmont Fire Department, where he became known as "Uncle
22 Artie" to his fellow firefighters; upon retiring from General
23 Motors in his early fifties, he was available for more nights
24 and calls; he became a part-time firefighter and worked
25 twelve-hour shifts; and
 
26     WHEREAS, For twenty-seven years, Mr. Tunell spent most of
27 his free time with the fire department; in 1994, a year before
28 he retired, he was the recipient of the department's
29 Firefighter of the Year Award; and
 

 

 

SR0679 - 2 - LRB094 19971 RAS 57371 r

1     WHEREAS, Mr. Tunell was a member of the Masonic Grove Lodge
2 and the First Presbyterian Church of Downers Grove, where he
3 was a former deacon and elder; he enjoyed working crossword
4 puzzles, playing pinochle, and bird-watching; and
 
5     WHEREAS, Mr. Tunell was truly part of that greatest
6 generation that came out of the Depression and fought in the
7 war; he was hard on the outside and soft on the inside; and
 
8     WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his wife, Irma; and
 
9     WHEREAS, The passing of Arthur "Bill" Tunell has been
10 deeply felt by many, especially his daughter, Linda (Mark)
11 Johnson; his son, Mark (Barbara); his sister, Hesser Martin;
12 and his grandchildren, Adam and Ryan Clark, Grant, and
13 Samantha; therefore, be it
 
14     RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL
15 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
16 Arthur "Bill" Tunell, and we extend our sincerest condolences
17 to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be
18 it further
 
19     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
20 presented to his family as an expression of our deepest
21 sympathy for their loss.